There’s something almost old-world romantic about committing to a journey measured not in days, but in seasons, and that’s exactly the tone Holland America Line sets with its newly announced 2028 Grand Voyages. Revealed by president Beth Bodensteiner to guests already at sea, the announcement feels less like a product launch and more like an invitation to step into a slower, more deliberate kind of travel—one where the rhythm of the ocean replaces the urgency of airports.
The scale of the 129-day Grand World Voyage is, frankly, a little staggering. Sailing aboard the MS Volendam, it loops the globe in a way that feels both expansive and surprisingly intimate, weaving through South America before descending into the icy stillness of Antarctica, then climbing back through the dramatic corridors of the Beagle Channel and Chilean Fjords. Somewhere along the way, there’s a stop at Easter Island—one of those places that almost doesn’t feel real until you’re standing there—and even a quiet, almost symbolic sail-past of Null Island, that invisible intersection where the Prime Meridian meets the Equator. It’s the kind of detail that might sound trivial at first, but then lingers in your mind… like a geographic curiosity turned into a moment.
The alternative, the 90-day Grand Australia & New Zealand Voyage aboard the MS Zaandam, trades global circumnavigation for depth. It leans into the vastness of the Pacific, stretching westward through Hawaii and into the layered cultures and landscapes of Oceania. What stands out here isn’t just the destinations themselves—Australia and New Zealand are hardly under-the-radar—but the access. Remote corners of Western Australia, places that rarely appear on cruise itineraries, suddenly feel within reach. And then there’s the absence of long-haul flights, which, if you’ve ever done one, you know is no small thing.
Both voyages converge, interestingly enough, on Bora Bora, which feels intentional—almost symbolic. That lagoon, impossibly blue and framed by the volcanic rise of Mount Otemanu, becomes a shared highlight across two very different journeys. Arriving there aboard smaller ships like Volendam and Zaandam adds another layer to the experience, slipping through narrow passes into a setting that feels, for a moment, completely untouched. For guests on Zaandam, the extended evening stay means the island doesn’t just pass by—it lingers, stretching into twilight and beyond.
What ties both voyages together isn’t just the destinations, though there are plenty—dozens of ports, UNESCO sites, and those lesser-known “Mariners’ Collection” stops—but the pacing. There’s time here, real time, to settle into the experience. Days at sea aren’t gaps between destinations; they’re part of the journey itself. Life onboard becomes its own rhythm, shaped by small routines, unexpected encounters, and the kind of gradual immersion that shorter trips rarely allow. Even the onboard experience leans into that idea, with evolving menus, cultural performances, and those slightly formal, almost nostalgic touches like gala evenings and captain’s dinners that remind you this is something a bit more ceremonial than your average vacation.
And maybe that’s the point. These voyages aren’t just about where you go—they’re about how long you’re willing to stay in motion, how deeply you want to experience the in-between. There’s a certain mindset required for that, a willingness to let the journey unfold slowly. Not everyone has the time, or the patience, but for those who do… it’s hard to imagine a more complete way to see the world.